LMCFR January 2015 news round-up

Ex-Arsenal chairman and founder of the Premier League gives a lecture to students

New year, new post at Leicester City for graduate

Football Studies and Business graduate, Daniel Banjo has taken up post as Data Administrator at Leicester City Football Club. Daniel, who graduated in November, will take responsibility for managing coaching and attendance records for various programmes in which the Club is involved. The data are being used to monitor targets that the Club sets in a number of areas. Speaking about the appointment, Course Leader Dr. Richard Elliott commented: "I'm really pleased that Daniel has been able to secure this first post in the professional game. He's going to learn an enormous amount about the Club's provision through the data he'll be working with. I wish him every success."

Barnet FC coaching role for graduate

Football Studies graduate Sam Woodruff has secured a role as Academy Foundation Phase Coach at Barnet FC. Sam will take responsibility for the Club's under-9's age group, looking after player development and the match schedule. He'll also get involved in the scouting of players locally and nationally, as he looks to strengthen his squad. Discussing his time at Solent University, Sam commented: "My degree in football studies has given me an abundance of knowledge and tools to help me progress in the football industry. It has allowed me to follow my dream and achieve the goals I set out before I came to University."

FA host new course filming session at Wembley Stadium

LMCFR centre director, Dr Richard Elliott, and members of Solent University's learning technologies team were guests of the Football Association at Wembley Stadium last week as they filmed content for a new equality and diversity training programme that is being developed between the University and Kick It Out. The course, which will launch later in the year, will be delivered online and, to that end, uses a range of video content to support the various course objectives. Discussing the filming session, Dr. Elliott commented: "I'm really thankful to the FA for allowing us to use Wembley to film the video content for the new course we're developing in conjunction with Kick It Out today. The FA is committed to equality and diversity across the game, to that end, and as their home, Wembley provides a fitting backdrop."

Ex-Arsenal Chairman and founder of Premier League lectures to students

Ex-Arsenal vice chairman and one of the main instigators in the formation of the Premier League, David Dein, lectured to staff and students at the University this week. Mr Dein, who has also held the post of vice-chairman of the Football Association and sat on numerous UEFA and FIFA committees, gave an expansive lecture on his involvement in the formation of the Premier League, its growth in the last three decades and a range of constituent issues ranging from youth development, to women's football and technology in the game. Speaking after the event, LMCFR director Dr. Richard Elliott commented: "David Dein is one of the most important figures in the history of English football. He was the man who was responsible for the introduction of the Premier League, he was the man who brought Arsene Wenger to Arsenal, and he is the man who has been responsible for some of the most significant changes in the game in recent memory. I'm absolutely delighted that he was able to come into the University today. All in attendance would have learned an enormous amount from his lecture."

Graduate follows Alan Pardew to Crystal Palace

Ben Stevens, one of the first graduates of Solent University's Football Studies degree, has followed Alan Pardew from Newcastle United, where he was head of performance analysis, to Crystal Palace, where he will take up the same role. Ben first worked for Alan Pardew at Southampton FC before leaving the club shortly after the manager's departure. He subsequently took up a post at Crystal Palace shortly after the club emerged from administration in 2010. His stay at Palace on this occasion was relatively short, however, as Pardew recruited him to be part of the Newcastle United backroom staff shortly after being appointed manager there in the same year. Having now taken the reigns at Crystal Palace, Pardew has placed the responsibility of running the Club's performance analysis department firmly in the hands of the Solent graduate - a role that he is relishing as the club seeks to maintain its Premier League status.